Drug Dealers

The story at the top of the Kidderminster Shuttle caught my eye "Five main drug dealers in Wyre Forest perhaps some people's views were "so many"; perhaps some thought "so few"; me I thought "Are they going to be feted". After all in these tough economic times anyone still in business deserves applause.

Sadly no they weren't, but reading the story a certain couple of words in conjunction with a phrase kept popping out at me "Alcohol and Substance Misuse Panel". Now to clear the ground is not Alcohol a "substance" why does it deserve to stand alone, why not Alcohol, Tobacco and Substance Misuse? However the key would here is "misuse" and its cousin that also appears "abuse".

In theory I shouldn't have to clarify the difference between the two words, but after reading the article it's obvious I do. So here's an example - If I pour beer over my head that's a misuse of the substance, because its 'use' is to be drunk. If I drink enough beer to cause liver failure that's an abuse as defined by 'normal' standards, if you want you can also define abuse as taking a normally safe object and making it harmful. To make things a little more complicated stabbing someone with a screwdriver is both a misuse (that's not what it's designed for) and an abuse (using a normally harmless item to cause harm).

After that little example I hope you see why I have a picked up on the title of the "Alcohol and Substance Misuse Panel"; this suggests that they were formed to stop people pouring alcohol over each over and teaching drug addicts how to properly ingest their drugs. Likewise this is presumably the same role carried out by the Worcestershire Substance Misuse Action Team without having to deal with alcohol though?

What is most important about the use of these two words is that they both carry the connotations that there is a correct and non-harmful way of using these drugs, however said methods are unlikely to be used without training which is also unlikely while said drugs remain illegal.

Oh and I had to laugh at near the end at "Community leaders will identify community needs in relation to dealing and drug supply" Yep the price is way too high we need more competition and our community leaders to encourage both more drug dealers and ensure a good supply line. Oh wait sorry did you mean the needs of the non-drug taking community; yeah you're right the others just don't count.

I'm not about to go into a detailed discussion of how the illegality of drugs has caused myriad problems, this is about the use of language and how it can turn around and bite you in the bum if you're not careful.